The fourteenth amendment granted citizenship to black citizens, and states were required to ratify this amendment in order to be re-admitted into the union after the civil war. though they passed this amendment in 1868, the house of representatives and senate of georgia soon removed the black members from the assembly, on the grounds that the state constitution did not recognize blacks' rights to hold public office. how did black leaders respond to this removal? they decided to create their own state assembly and make new laws. they assembled in macon to protest and decide what actions to take. they met with president ulysses grant to inform him of their removal. they held another election in hopes of getting reelected to the assembly.